White House welcomes college champs -- with 2 notable exceptions

Members of the NCAA champion Penn State men's wrestling team pose with President Donald Trump Friday in the Rose Garden of the White House. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump meets members of the NCAA champion Ohio State University men's volleyball team Friday on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

Members of Penn State's NCAA champion women's rugby team pose for photographs with President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House Friday. The White House welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump poses with members of the Ohio State University men's championship volleyball team on the South Lawn of the White House Friday. The president welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump welcomes the University of Maryland championship men's lacrosse team on the south side of the White House on Friday. The president welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump congratulates members NCAA champion University of Oklahoma softball team in the East Room of the White House on Friday. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

Members of the NCAA champion Penn State men's wrestling team pose with President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden at the White House Friday. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

Members of the NCAA champion University of Maryland women's lacrosse team react to meeting President Donald Trump Friday on the south side of the White House. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

Members of the NCAA champion University of Washington women's rowing team pose with President Donald Trump Friday on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

A military quartet plays music as President Donald Trump meets members of NCAA championship teams on the South Lawn of the White House Friday. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

Members of the NCAA champion Texas A&M University men's indoor track and field team pose Friday with President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos pray with members of the NCAA champion University of Oklahoma softball team in the East Room of the White House Friday. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump poses with members of the NCAA champion University of Maryland women's lacrosse team Friday on the south side of the White House. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos pose with members of the NCAA champion University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team in the East Room of the White House Friday. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

President Donald Trump visits with members of the NCAA champion University of Washington women's rowing team Friday on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump welcomed several championship teams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 17 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump welcomed NCAA championship teams to the White House on Friday -- with some notable exceptions.

The president welcomed multiple teams for "National Collegiate Champions Day," which included college teams from around the country.

It's tradition for championship teams to visit the president every year, but since Trump took office a number of teams and players have refused the invitation.

Glaring omissions from Friday's ceremony were the champions from two of collegiate athletics' most prominent sports -- men's and women's basketball.

South Carolina, the women's champion, and North Carolina, the men's, both were not at the White House.

"We did hear from the White House about attending [Friday's] event, but we will not be able to attend," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley told The State. "All of our focus is on the season ahead. The only invitation we are thinking about is to the 2018 NCAA tournament."

North Carolina wasn't expected, at all. Earlier this year, the Tar Heels said they wouldn't be coming due to a schedule conflict.

Oklahoma University sent its championship teams in women's and men's gymnastics, golf and softball to Friday's event. Teams from the University of Maryland, Penn State University, the University of Florida and Texas A&M also were present. All teams posed with the president for photographs in various White House locations.

North and South Carolina's teams aren't the first to decline a White House invite from Trump.